updated 05:10 pm EST, Mon November 8, 2010

Suite essentially finished, sources say

iWork '11 is actually already finished and just waiting for the introduction of the Mac App Store in order to ship, sources for AppleInsider claim. The same people also say that Numbers, Pages and Keynote will be available separately through the App Store, and that Apple has yet to decide whether the usual boxed retail version of iWork will be published. Images from Apple's Back to the Mac event depict iWork programs becoming available for $20 each via the App Store.

Apple reportedly intended to launch iWork '11 at the same time as iLife '11, but decided to hold it back at the last moment. The Mac App Store should launch early next year; Apple, though, has yet to indicate a precise launch date. The company began taking developer submissions on November 4th.

Hurray!

I've been looking forward to an iWork update, and I hope this turns out to be true. I'd probably just buy full box, especially if it's priced lower than the $60 it appears it will cost via the App Store. I don't use Numbers much, but it's handy enough when I do need it that $20 for it is no big thing. Pages and Keynote updates -- can't wait. Very happy with the present versions, looking forward to seeing what's next.